Russia Plans First Diesel Tanker Shipment to U.S. on Oct. 22

Russia plans to dispatch its first diesel tanker to the United States on Thursday, Oct. 22, under a supply arrangement covered by a U.S. license for certain Russian-origin diesel transactions.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the scheduled departure Wednesday. He said more shipments would follow, while the supply contracts were still in the final stage of signing.

Novak described the vessel as having a displacement of 40,000 metric tons. That figure describes the vessel's displacement, not a confirmed amount of diesel aboard. Russia's future deliveries would depend on its available supply capacity, leaving the volume of later shipments unsettled.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 135 on Oct. 9. It authorizes certain transactions involving the sale, delivery, offloading and U.S. import of Russian-origin diesel through 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 UTC) on April 7, 2027. The license does not authorize debits to accounts at U.S. financial institutions held by Russia's central bank, National Wealth Fund or Finance Ministry.